#22| peru: recap

This stands as my most favorite trip of all time.

Truly. I can’t imagine any trip topping this, ever. I did figure out the formula, so that will help with recreating a similar experience in the future, but this will always be the first trip with all of the elements incorporated organically. It wasn’t one particular location or adventure, but the combination of all of the experiences.

Here is the breakdown that will formulate future favorite trips:

• Metropolitan City (Lima pop: 8.9 million)
• Culturally significant, smaller city (Cusco pop: 350,000)
• Small district (Ollantaytambo pop: 9,800)
• Non-profit sustainable tourism (rural Quechua community)
• Moderate hiking adventure (2 day Inca Trail)
• UNESCO World Heritage Site (Machu Picchu)
• New Seven Wonders of the World (Machu Picchu)
• Guided experience (into the Amazon)
• Active adventures (in the Amazon)
• Back to Metropolitan City (Lima)

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We started out with familiar amenities in Lima, and focused on cultural adjustment. Then, we were in a historical city, Cusco, that filled our minds and hearts with appreciation of what it was and what is now. When we went to an even smaller area, Ollantaytambo, we slowed our paces and increased our spontaneity. We joined a day trip to support the Quechua women by purchasing directly from the weavers.

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We hiked a part of the Inca Trail. We attempted to take in all of Machu Picchu, which we learned wasn’t truly possible to immerse fully, but our experience was really close (we arrived right before they closed the site for the day, so it was virtually empty). We spent 5 days in the Amazon between lounging on hammocks and going on a variety of jungle adventures. We were in a YES mentality, anything the tour guide suggested (like, eating a live termite) was a yes.

We ended our trip back into the world of amenities, and it wrapped up our trip with a sparkly bow on top. We jogged along the waterfront, we ate ceviche day-in and day-out, and we celebrated the survival of another amazing trip together less than a year after we first met.